Main navigation

C’est La Vie! Your Guide to Living in Paris

Paris is one of the best-known and most popular tourist destinations in the world. The city gets the lion’s share of the 89 million tourists who visit France annually.

It’s hailed as the city of love and light and on the surface. It’s easy to think relocating to Paris could be a dream come true.

Yet, as with all travel destinations, living there is never the same as being on vacation.

Unless you have a thick skin, living in Paris may not be all it’s made out to be. Yet, it’s also a wonderful place to cut your teeth on European culture and a notable center of fashion, commerce, and education.

Here are the pros and cons of Paris living.

Finding Somewhere to Live in Paris

It is exceptionally difficult to find an apartment in Paris.

Every vacant spot has dozens of applicants. Yes, applicants. You have to fight for the right to live in this vibrant city and the process can be a little like a job interview.

Get your paperwork in order before you start looking for somewhere to stay. You’ll need the following:

ID documents

A letter of recommendation from your last landlord

Your employment contract or student card

Your last 3 payslips

Your most recent tax certificate

On top of all this, you need a letter from a guarantor who also needs to provide all the above documents. Parisians love paperwork.

Paris consists of 20 arrondissements (administrative districts) each with their own charms.

The best places for families to live in Paris are Luxembourg and Passy. Students will feel right at home in the Latin Quarter or Oberkamf, while Bastille and Enclos St. Laurent suit those with a low budget.

The most popular and expensive areas are Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Eiffel Tower, Avenue Montaigne, and Trocadéro.

Fitting In

Europe is one of the easiest places for Americans to travel and live in. As an American living in Paris, you’ll find a few similarities to your way of life back home.

France is a developed country with all the modern conveniences you’re accustomed to at home. You drive on the right-hand side of the road in France, although this can be a hair-raising experience.

Most French people speak some English, but you’ll make more friends if you learn to speak the lingo. You can sign up for French lessons at the city hall. Sorbonne University offers free courses for students.

No self-respecting Parisian goes to the store in their trainers and sweats. Impeccable style is part of the French psyche and everyone goes out of their way to look immaculate all the time.

Ladies, bare legs and fake tans are a no-no on the French fashion scene. Go for a classy, understated look at all times.

Parisians have a reputation for being suspicious of foreigners and being offhand, and even rude at times. This isn’t always true, but learning more about their language and culture will help you to gain acceptance.

Making the Most of It

Being a local doesn’t mean you need to skimp on all the tourist attractions Paris has to offer. Chances are you’ll soon start to harbor resentment towards the eternal flow of tourists hogging all the best sights though.

Thankfully, there are people like The Paris Guy who can help you tick these must-see sights off your list with VIP access.

Primary Sidebar

Meet Me :)

The name is John. I've been travelling for about 3 years now and don't plan on going back home to Canada anytime soon. I love to eat, watch sports and stay out late. But most of all, I love not working a 9-5 job anymore... (Not that there's anything wrong with that!). It just wasn't for me, I felt like my soul was slowly dying every day I dredged in front of my computer screen in a mundane office. Read More…